Tips for Filing Vandalism Claims

Tips for Filing Vandalism Claims 1. Call the Police Immediately - Notify the police the moment you notice that your car has been damaged. Your car insurance company will likely require that you file a police report before they'll process a claim for vandalism. There are no available sample police reports for vandalism since every act of vandalism is a case-to-case basis. Police report will be done using your own words. 2. Document the Damages - If your car has been vandalized, take pictures of the damage to submit with your auto insurance claim. It's also helpful if you have fairly current pictures of your car before the vandalism, just in case there's any question of when the damage happened. 3. Notify Your Car Insurance Company - Call your insurance company as soon as possible. If you have comprehensive car insurance, you should be covered for a vandalism claim. However, there are some items you’ll need in order to file your claim. Be prepared with the following information for a vandalism claim: Description and/or pictures of the damage. List of personal property that was stolen from the vehicle. Contact information for the lender or lease company, if needed. 4. Keep Records and Receipts Comprehensive car insurance often covers incidental expenses related to theft and vandalism claims, and may include the cost of alternative transportation while you don't have access to the insured vehicle. Check with your insurance company to see what's covered. Keep copies of receipts for those expenses along with receipts for repairs and other related expenses, and submit them to the insurance company along with your claim. 5. Evaluation by Your Claims Adjustor In case of vandalism or attempted theft, your car insurance company may send a claims adjuster immediately to assess the damage to your vehicle, or it may want additional pictures of the damage before making a decision. Follow all instructions you get from the claims representative when you call to report the incident, and take any additional steps needed to protect your car from further damage, such as covering broken windows to protect the car's interior from weather. Credit: http://www.dmv.org/